Moving abroad

Things to do before you go

  • Update your contact details.
  • Sign up for Mobile, Online and Telephone Banking.
  • Review your accounts with us.

 

Check your tax status

If you haven't already, please visit HMRC for more information on any change to your tax status while you're away. Or you can call HMRC on (+44) 135 535 9022.

Fees and charges abroad

You may be charged fees if you use your debit or credit card abroad. Find out more about fees and charges for debit and credit cards on our travelling page.

We're unable to send cards, PINs, cheques and statements to some high-risk or remote countries. If this affects you, please contact us.

Contact us

If you need to contact us from a different country, please call the number on the back of your card. Or you can call (+44) 1908 237 963 or 0330 9 123 123 to speak to a member of our team. Our opening hours are from 8am-6pm, 7 days a week.

If you’re moving to or from an overseas address we’ll need you to print off our form, fill it in and post it to us.

What you’ll need

  1. Our change of details form (PDF - 364 KB)
  2. A valid form of ID
  3. Proof of your change of address

Click 'A valid form of ID' to see which ID documents we accept from lists 1 and 2. If you don't have the documents from these lists, we can accept the foreign equivalents of these documents:

  • utility bill (including council tax) 
  • bank statements (including mortgage statement), or
  • HMRC correspondence.

Please arrange translation of these documents before posting them to us. 

Please post your change of details form with a copy of your ID and proof of address to:

Santander Banking
Operations,
Sunderland SR43 4FP

It's important to make sure your contact details are up-to-date, so we can contact you while you're abroad.

Please note, we may send you SMS messages (for example, One Time Passcodes (OTPs) or Account alerts). We can only guarantee delivery to customers who are in the UK with a UK registered number (+44).

The easiest way to change your contact details is by using Online Banking

You can also change your contact details by visiting one of our branches with your debit or credit card. You’ll need proof of your ID with a signature such as a valid passport or full UK driving licence.

Find out more about changing your personal details

Before you leave you should sign up for Online, Mobile and Telephone Banking as they'll help you manage your accounts while you're abroad. 

Go to the Online Banking page for more information on Online Banking and how to register. Once registered, you can also set up handy account alerts to keep you up to date on your accounts.

If you're already registered for Online Banking, you'll find details on how to set up your alert service in the 'Account Services' tab. 

To sign up for Telephone Banking contact us

Moving abroad could impact the benefits on your accounts and methods of repayments. You should read the information below carefully to understand the impact on your accounts by moving abroad. 

Impact of moving abroad on accounts

General
  • To apply for any Santander UK plc product, you need to be a resident of the UK.
  • Living abroad may impact your ability to access credit. 
  • We can currently service existing products. However, if there is a change in the regulatory position, or there is political uncertainty within the country in which you’re living, we will contact you directly and let you know your options.
Credit cards
  • If you have any of our credit cards, you may not be eligible for associated benefits on your account if you're moving abroad. We recommend talking to us to review your credit card account options. 
  • We can't accept Direct Debits from an overseas bank account. Direct Debit payments will need to continue to be made via a UK bank account. 
  • If you lock your PIN on your card whilst overseas, you will need to request a new card and PIN. The facility to unlock your PIN at an ATM isn’t available outside the UK. 

We'll no longer be able to agree:

  • Requests for increased credit card limits; and
  • Requests for any additional credit card holders.
1|2|3 Credit Card
  • Cashback will only be earned on purchases in the UK to retailers within eligible Merchant Category Codes. 
  • Check the 'Where can I get cashback?' page for the list. 

We'll no longer be able to agree:

  • Requests for increased credit card limits; and
  • Requests for any additional credit card holders.
1|2|3 Current Account & 1|2|3 Lite Current Account
  • Cashback will only be earned on Direct Debits in the UK to institutions that are eligible.
  • Check the 'Where can I get cashback?' page for the list.
  • We’ll no longer be able to agree requests for new or increased overdraft limits.
Santander Edge current account & Santander Edge Up current account
  • Cashback will only be earned on Direct Debits and debit card spend in the UK to eligible businesses.
  • Check out our where can I earn cashback page to learn more about where you can earn cashback using your Santander Edge account.
  • We’ll no longer be able to agree requests for new or increased overdraft limits.
Debit cards
  • If you lock your PIN on your card whilst overseas, you will need to request a new card and PIN. The facility to unlock your PIN at an ATM isn’t available outside the UK.
Fixed Rate Bonds
  • We'll continue to write to you at least 14 days before your bond matures with details of the options available to you. If you don't contact us before your bond matures, your money will be transferred into an instant access account at maturity.
Cash ISAs, investments ISAs and investments 
  • You can't open or add to an existing ISA or investment when you cease to be a resident in the UK for tax purposes. The exception to this is for Crown employees working overseas or the spouse or civil partner of a Crown employee working overseas. They can open or add to an existing ISA but not an investment.
  • You can keep your ISA or investment and continue to put money in it when you become a resident in the UK for tax purposes again, subject to the normal annual ISA limits.
  • For more information please visit HMRC's website.
Personal Loans
  • We can't accept Direct Debits from overseas bank accounts. Direct Debit payments will need to continue to be made from a UK bank account.
Insurance
  • It's important that you refer to your insurance policy document that will contain contact details of who you should tell about your change in circumstances.
Mortgages
  • We can't accept Direct Debits from overseas bank accounts. Direct Debit payments will need to continue to be made from a UK bank account.
  • Please let us know if you'd like to rent out your UK home so that we can send you our consent to let conditions and let you know about the fee.

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